• Introduce- new objects using cards (cruets, Sacramentary, Processional Cross)
Discuss what each object is and what we do with them. Then collect the cards and show each card to the students. Have the students identify the object and what we do with them.

*If the students need help with any of the cards give them a clue such as saying out loud the first syllable of the word or the definition.

In most churches a basket is passed around and the people can contribute some money to help support the church. The Church uses that money to help pay for the Church expenses and contributions for the community and around the world. It takes money to buy various things like candles, instruments, books, music, etc. The money is also used for missionaries, charities, running the church, church maintenance, food for the poor, etc.

During the collection, we are sitting and a hymn is sung while the altar is being prepared and the gifts are being brought together. A corporal, purificator, Sacramentary, paten, and chalice are all placed on the altar. We continue to sing while our gifts as well as the bread and wine are brought from the congregation to the presider of the Mass in a procession. Have you ever helped bring the gifts up to the priest? What did you carry?

Tithing is our contribution to the support of the Church; which is one tenth of one’s yearly income given to the Church. The word tithe (write this on the board) means that a tenth of everything your land produces (company produces, or what you make) belongs to God.

Questions:

Do we sit or stand during the preparation of the gifts? (Sit)

What things do we (or our parents) give to the church? (Money, time, food for the poor, coats and clothes for people who need them, etc.)

What is the money given to the church used for? (Missionaries, charities, running the church, church maintenance, food for the poor, etc.)

What else is carried to the presider of the Mass along with our gifts of money? (The bread and wine.)

Jesus in the Temple and go over vocabulary words with students. Read story: “Jesus in the Temple” The Usborne Children's Bible by Heather Amery and ask questions from Take Home Sheet that will be sent home today. Note: When I read the story to the students I usually sit in the chair in the corner by the board and have the students sit on the floor in front of me. After the students have answered the questions about the story, I have them go back to their seats to continue with what is on the lesson plan (activity, craft, game, puzzles/worksheets, etc.).

Activity-

kidssundayschool.com- Jesus and Me
How does a child's life today compare to when Jesus was born? An activity to help kids relate to Jesus.

Craft- Introduce craft: When Jesus was a little boy, where did he get his toys? (They made them). We are going to make us a to play with.

Need: laundry detergent lid/cup, twine, large bead

Make a hole using a drill near the top of the rim. Cut twine to about 2 feet long. Tie one end of the twine to the lid. On the other end of the twine tie a large bead to it (2 beads if they are small).

To play- Hold the cup letting the string hang down. Swing the bead up and try to catch it inside the cup. For competitive play, whoever gets the most catches out of 10 or 20 tries wins.

Have students read the one page Bible story out loud in class by taking turns (each read a page) and take home to read to their parents. Students can also color one page Bible story.

Game- Introduce game: When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem with his parents. The journey took four days and when they arrived the great city was crowded with visitors. Jesus saw many things in Jerusalem and was amazed at what he saw.

What did Jesus see in Jerusalem?

This is a memory game. Have the players seated in a circle. The first player begins by saying, "Jesus went to Jerusalem and he saw many things. He saw a ..........." He can say anything he likes, for example an orange, a pair of shoes, a camel, or a pet dog. The next player in line begins the same way but adds a second object after repeating the first. The third player also begins, “Jesus went to Jerusalem and he saw many things. He saw a ..........." He must repeat the first two objects and then add a third. So it goes on, but if a player can’t repeat or mixes up the order of the objects then he is out.

If you haven't got many players, the same children can keep adding more items. The game continues until one player remains or until time is up. Some lists get very long and are remembered for years by the players. A variation is to decide that the objects chosen must start with the letters of the alphabet in order, for example "apple, bat, cake...zebra." This makes it a little easier to remember. (You could also help the player if necessary so everyone can play).

Puzzles & Worksheets- While students are doing puzzles/worksheets, etc. they may say a prayer. Students are asked to recite 5 prayers by the end of the year. A “We Know Our Prayers” chart is on the bulletin board. If the student can recite the prayer correctly, write the date on the chart, and they get to pick a prize from the prize bag.

365 Activities for Kids- Find the 10 scrolls on July 26th

Homework- Give each student a Jesus in the Temple Take Home Sheet for their parents to go over with them to review what we have done in class. Parents need to help their child fill this out and bring back to class the following week. Students that complete their homework and bring it back to class will be able to play Homeworkopoly. Each Sunday the students make a mini story book and/or story wheel in class. Students need to read these to their parents (or the parents read to them) the mini book and/or story wheel for homework.

What will you do in your classroom or home? Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!

Friday, December 27, 2013

*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year A page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.

Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.

Matthew 4:12-23 or Matthew 4:12-17

Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

Have the students make a banner saying: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Glue letters on a large piece of felt or material or even on a piece of construction paper. You can use cut out letters made out of felt, craft foam, etc. or make letters out of yarn, construction paper or even on the computer.

Throw Away Your Sins Game- This is for younger students to understand that their sins are forgiven.

Need: 1 trashcan, a piece of paper for each child, and 1 chair.

Directions: Give each child a piece of paper. Have the children think of a recent time that they sinned, such as telling a lie about their homework, arguing with their parents, or a time they were disobedient, etc. Next, have them think of how many times they sinned during the past week. Remind them of all the things that may be considered a sin, and have them write the number down on the piece of paper. Tell the children, “Let’s pretend that you made your confession to the priest and you did your penance. Now your sins are forgiven. Let’s throw away your sins.” Put a trashcan against a wall. Have the children line up behind a chair (to keep them from getting too close to the basket). One by one, have them throw their sins into a trashcan that is a few feet away.

Introduce game- How are we to treat others? Well, here are some question and let’s see how well you can.

Materials- “Win or Lose by How You Choose” by Judge Judy Sheindlin

Directions- Divide the class into teams and do questions out of “Win or Lose by How You Choose!” Whichever teams gets the most points, wins.

Or

sundayschoolresources.com- What Do I Do? (scroll down to this game) The teacher can read the situations and ask the children what they can do to show the special love Jesus says we should have.

Friday, December 20, 2013

*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year A page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.

Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.

John 1:29-34

Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

Friday, December 13, 2013

*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year A page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.

Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.

Matthew 3:13-17

Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

books.google.com- Heavenly Doves
Make soap-on-a-rope doves to remind the children how baptism symbolizes that are sins are washed away. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Crafts for Children by Group Publishing, page 101.) Note: You can use a slightly greased cookie cutter to help children make the soap into the shape of a dove. Or the children can just make it into any shape they want.

Directions: Put a trashcan against a wall. Have students line up in two teams behind a chair (to keep them from getting too close to basket). Students then play Horse Basketball, but spell Jesus. The first team that spells JESUS wins.

More 365 Activities for Kids (do any of the Jesus and John the Baptist puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, spot the difference, etc. from August 16 - 17).

John Baptizes Jesus- Color the picture below according to the color code. There is something missing in the picture. Hint: It came from the sky. Draw the missing part. (Big Puzzles for Little Hands: Jesus' Life and Lessons by Carla Williams, page 22).

*If the students need help with any of the cards give them a clue such as saying out loud the first syllable of the word or the definition.

Lesson Plan-

Wise Men and go over vocabulary words with students. Read story: “The Wise Men” The Usborne Children's Bible by Heather Amery and ask questions from Wise Men Take Home Sheet. Note: When I read the story to the students I usually sit in the chair in the corner by the board and have the students sit on the floor in front of me. After the students have answered the questions about the story, I have them go back to their seats to continue with what is on the lesson plan (activity, craft, game, puzzles/worksheets, etc.).

Have students read the one page Bible story out loud in class by taking turns (each read a page) and take home to read to their parents. Students can also color one page Bible story.

Game- Introduce game: Today I will send home a Take Home Test. Let’s see how well you can answer the questions.

Review Game

The objective of the game is to be the first player to score 10 points. Have a player roll the die on the floor in front of the class. If the die lands on a blank space, they do not answer a question. If the die lands on “?”, they are asked a question by the teacher from the test. If the player answers correctly, they receive a point (you can use tokens, write it on the board, etc.). If they are not correct, they do not receive a point. The first player to score 10 points, is the winner. You can play this game individually or in teams. For an added challenge, you can also have “Lose 1 Point” and “Take 1 Point” on a side of the die. When a player rolls “Lose 1 Point”, they must lose 1 point. If a player rolls “Take 1 Point”, they may take a point from any player they choose.

Make a die out of a large juice carton and put a ? mark on some (at least 3) of the sides of the die.

Puzzles & Worksheets- While students are doing puzzles/worksheets, etc. they may say a prayer. Students are asked to recite 5 prayers by the end of the year. A “We Know Our Prayers” chart is on the bulletin board. If the student can recite the prayer correctly, write the date on the chart, and they get to pick a prize from the prize bag.

More 365 Activities for Kids- Wise Men (spot the difference) on August 6.

Homework- Give each student a Wise Men Take Home Sheet for their parents to go over with them to review what we have done in class. Parents need to help their child fill this out and bring back to class the following week. Students that complete their homework and bring it back to class will be able to play Homeworkopoly. Each Sunday the students make a mini story book and/or story wheel in class. Students need to read these to their parents (or the parents read to them) the mini book and/or story wheel for homework.

Take Home Test #2

What will you do in your classroom or home? Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!

Friday, December 6, 2013

*Be sure to check out Gospel for the Mass Year A page right below the header for other days that you need Gospel for the Mass activities.

Disclaimer: The posts below contain links to other websites and the content of these sites are evaluated before they are included. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.

Matthew 2:1-12

Activities

catholicmom.com- Click on the month. Scroll down to the date for Coloring Page, Mass Worksheet, Crossword Puzzle, Word Search, etc.

Theresa at catholickidsbulletin.blogspot.com will post a link to an activity sheet that coordinates with the Catholic Mass. There will be pictures and activities each week to help little kids understand and appreciate the Mass. Most weeks, she will also highlight a Saint whose feast day falls within that week or a liturgical symbol they can watch for at Mass.

sadlierreligion.com- Scroll down to Gospel Reflection, Discussion Questions for the Gospel, and Proclaiming Faith Activities

loyolapress.com- Background on the Gospel and activities for groups and families

kidsclubs4jesus.com- Three Wise Men lesson with puzzles, coloring sheet, Bible readings, questions, memory verses, key points, object lesson, drama, puppets, etc. (These files are set up and formatted so that they can be easily made into weekly booklets for your children's ministry, youth ministry, etc., with 4 sheets of legal paper and two staples).

dltk-bible.com- Wise Men lesson with take home sheet, coloring pages, crafts, Bible Story/Song Time, etc. Click on 3 for lessons.

Purim Treat Holder- Cute craft to represent the Wise Men. (Crafts to make in the Winter by Kathy Ross, page 58 & 59).

Three Kings Hats- Three kings made out of cone shaped party hats. (Crafts from your favorite Bible Stories by Kathy Ross, page 40 & 41).

Potato Stars- Paint, glitter, and a potato can help make a beautiful night sky. Even though this comes from a preschool craft book, it is appropriate for older children to do. (Preschool Christian Crafts by Linda Standke, page 53).

Games

Introduce game: Who was searching for baby Jesus?

Wise Men Search

Need: Clothes pin to be baby Jesus.

Directions: One student is picked to be a Wise Man and steps out of the classroom. Another student is picked by the teacher to hide baby Jesus somewhere in the classroom. When baby Jesus is hidden, the Wise Man comes back into the room. He is to find baby Jesus by directions from the student that hid baby Jesus. These directions are: the star is not very bright if the Wise Man is far away, brighter if somewhat nearer, getting brighter if even closer, and VERY bright if very close. When the Wise Man finds the baby Jesus, the person that hid baby Jesus is now the Wise Man.

books.google.com- Finding Favor (Wise Men Find Jesus)
This game will help students identify how we pursue things that are important to us. (The Encyclopedia of Bible Games for Children’s Ministry, page 68 & 69).

Wise Men Visit Jesus- Look at the pictures in the circles. Find the matching picture in the larger picture. Draw lines to connect the matching pictures. (Big Puzzles for Little Hands: Jesus’ Life and Lessons by Carla Williams, page 14).

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Come one, come all! Come join the Advent Wreath Link Up @ catholicmom.com. It will be hosted at catholicmom.com on Monday, December 9. The post will go up at 6 a.m. Eastern (3 a.m. Pacific) and you’ll be able to link your posts to it.

Here’s how it works:

1. Take a picture of your Advent wreath.

2. If you have a blog, post it there. If not, email it to Sarah Reinhard (posted at catholicmom.com) and she will take care of the rest.

3. If you’ve posted it to your blog, link up to catholicmom.com on December 9th (there will be a little “share your link here” thing at the end of the post, like they do on Thursdays for Small Success).

4. Click around and enjoy the tour of Advent wreaths. Be inspired! :) Insert Advent anticipation, get ideas, have fun!

Here is my Advent Wreath that I did with my students in class on November 24th. I got the craft idea from catholicinspired.com. What a great way to learn about Advent by making an Advent Wreath to take home!

In the Prayer of the Faithful we pray for the needs of all the Church, living and dead. We ask for God’s help for all of humanity. We call on God in petition for help and guidance.

The priest says this prayer from the presider’s or celebrant’s chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he invites the faithful to pray and ends it with a prayer.

The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.

Usually the Prayers of the Faithful follow this order:

1. Prayers for the universal Church, the pope, and the bishops.
2. Prayers for public authorities and the salvation of the whole world.
3. Prayers for those burdened by any kind of difficulty.
4. Prayers for the needs of the local church and community.

We stand and the reader presents our needs to God. We pray silently as the reader prays aloud.

Reader: We pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

The priest summarizes our needs. We pray silently as he prays aloud.

People: Amen.

Questions:

Who reads the petitions? (The deacon or a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.)

Do we stand or sit during the Prayer of the Faithful? (Stand)

How do we answer the prayer petition at Mass? (“Lord, hear our prayer.”)

Celebrating the Mass Activity-

The activity below is free, however it can only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.

Birth of Jesus and go over vocabulary words with students. Read story: “The Birth of Jesus” The Usborne Children's Bible by Heather Amery and ask questions from Take Home Sheet that will be sent home today. Note: When I read the story to the students I usually sit in the chair in the corner by the board and have the students sit on the floor in front of me. After the students have answered the questions about the story, I have them go back to their seats to continue with what is on the lesson plan (activity, craft, game, puzzles/worksheets, etc.).

Craft- Introduce craft: Where was Jesus born? (In a stable.)

Directions: Print out Christmas Nativity and stable background for students. Have students cut out Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the lamb and color. Glue characters on stable background.

Puzzles & Worksheets- While students are doing puzzles/worksheets, etc. they may say a prayer. Students are asked to recite 5 prayers by the end of the year. A “We Know Our Prayers” chart is on the bulletin board. If the student can recite the prayer correctly, write the date on the chart, and they get to pick a prize from the prize bag.

Homework- Give each student a The Birth of Jesus Take Home Sheet for their parents to go over with them to review what we have done in class. Parents need to help their child fill this out and bring back to class the following week. Students that complete their homework and bring it back to class will be able to play Homeworkopoly. Each Sunday the students make a mini story book and/or story wheel in class. Students need to read these to their parents (or the parents read to them) the mini book and/or story wheel for homework.

What will you do in your classroom or home? Please comment so I can add the link to your blog to this post. We would love to see what you do!

The Catholic Toolbox Games Yahoo Group

Copyright

All activities, games, information, etc. on this blog are free; however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction orretransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

Please do not link directly to any activity or game using its URL (the unique address for a file that is accessible on the Internet). You are always welcome to link to the specific post. Please take a moment to leave a comment and link back. We would love to see your blog or website! Thank you! :)

All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on the activities or games are not my own and are from various internet sources.

Disclaimer

The information that is posted on this blog is general information. It is not intended to substitute for obtaining advice from your church or DRE. It is for informational and educational purposes only.

This blog contains links to other websites which you may choose to visit if you so desire. The content of these sites are evaluated before the links are included on this blog. These websites can change without warning making links inactive and/or the content altered. We have no control over other websites and we are not responsible for the content that they post.